Looking for shale gas, they found Godzilla’s nemesis (photos)

A dinosaur's cervical vertebrae, found at an Exxon Mobil shale gas site in Argentina, is inspected by paleontologists.

A dinosaur's cervical vertebrae, found at an Exxon Mobil shale gas site in Argentina, is inspected by paleontologists.

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Paleontologists uncovered the vertebrae of a titanosaurus saurpod at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

Paleontologists uncovered the vertebrae of a titanosaurus saurpod at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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Several pieces of fossilized bone from a teropoudus are laid out for paleontologists.

Several pieces of fossilized bone from a teropoudus are laid out for paleontologists.

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A paleontologist cleans a cervical piece from a teropoudus discovered at an Exxon Mobil natural gas operation in Argentina.

A paleontologist cleans a cervical piece from a teropoudus discovered at an Exxon Mobil natural gas operation in Argentina.

Photo: Exxon Mobil

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A paleontologist cleans a cervical piece from a teropoudus, discovered at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A paleontologist cleans a cervical piece from a teropoudus, discovered at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A paleontologist cleans the fossilized dinosaur bones found at a shale gas site in Argentina.

A paleontologist cleans the fossilized dinosaur bones found at a shale gas site in Argentina.

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The vertebrae of a teropoudus are laid out for paleontologists.

The vertebrae of a teropoudus are laid out for paleontologists.

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An eroded portion of a titanosaurus hip is discovered at an Exxon Mobil operation in Argentina.

An eroded portion of a titanosaurus hip is discovered at an Exxon Mobil operation in Argentina.

Photo: Exxon Mobil

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An eroded portion of a femur, or thigh bone, is discovered at an Exxon Mobil natural gas excavation site in Argentina.

An eroded portion of a femur, or thigh bone, is discovered at an Exxon Mobil natural gas excavation site in Argentina.

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The foot of a titanosaurus sauropod is discovered at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

The foot of a titanosaurus sauropod is discovered at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A team of paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A team of paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A team of paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A team of paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A team of paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A team of paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A team of paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A team of paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A paleontologist works to uncover fossilized bones found at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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A petrified piece of wood is discovered during excavation at the Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

A petrified piece of wood is discovered during excavation at the Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site in Argentina.

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Jorge Sapag, governor of Argentina's Neuquén province, looks at a turtle shell found along with dinosaur bones at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site.

Jorge Sapag, governor of Argentina's Neuquén province, looks at a turtle shell found along with dinosaur bones at an Exxon Mobil natural gas exploration site.

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the team of paleontologists arrive at the Exxon Mobil site in Argentina where fossilized dinosaur bones were recently discovered.

the team of paleontologists arrive at the Exxon Mobil site in Argentina where fossilized dinosaur bones were recently discovered.

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Looking for shale gas, they found Godzilla's nemesis (photos)

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HOUSTON — An Exxon Mobil shale gas project in Argentina had to be diverted when a road construction crew struck dinosaur bones of titanic size.

Preparing to explore for natural gas in western Argentina last spring, Exxon uncovered fossils from a herd of Titanosaurus Sauropods, a broad category of some of the largest creatures to ever roam Earth. The fossils date to the late Cretaceous period, about 66 million to 100 million years ago.

The region is known for being rich not only in oil and gas, but in dinosaur skeletons, as well.

A team of paleontologists descended on the field for a two-week dig in November and a larger group will return next month. They found Titanosaurus vertebrae, feet, hip, neck, and thigh bones. Exxon said the team also made a rare discovery of a Teropoudus skull, a carnivorous, bipedal dinosaur.

Despite the intimidating name, Titanosaurus Sauropods were herbivores. Adding to the mystique, they share a name with an aquatic nemesis of Godzilla that appeared in the 1975 Japanese film Terror of Mechagodzilla. But the real Titanosauruses, a catch-all designation for a family of heavy-weight dinos, were land dwellers who walked on four legs.

An Exxon Mobil spokesman said the company has provided materials and services for the team of four paleontologists, two assistants and a photographer.

“ExxonMobil has diverted our operations to ensure the integrity of the dig site and has funded the first phase of paleontological work,” said Tomas Hess, ExxonMobil Argentina’s public and government affairs manager. “Currently, the team is finishing its cleaning of the fossils and comparing the results to other fossils at the museum in Rincon de los Sauces as well as other nearby museums.”

The paleontologists plan to expand their excavation region in the Bajo del Choique and La Invernada blocks of the Vaca Muerta. The finds will be presented at the Argentina Paleontological Symposium in May, according to Exxon Mobil.

This fossilized horse skull was found at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma after a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad.

This fossilized horse skull was found at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma after a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad.

Photo: Cojeen Archaeological Services

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These fossilized bone fragments were found at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma after a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad.

These fossilized bone fragments were found at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma after a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad.

Photo: Cojeen Archaeological Services

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These fossilized bone fragments were found at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma after a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad.

These fossilized bone fragments were found at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma after a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad.

Photo: Cojeen Archaeological Services

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From left, Teresa Brown, an archeologist with Cojeen Archaeological Services and Kyle Davies, a fossil preparator with the Sam Noble Museum, excavate the site at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma. less

From left, Teresa Brown, an archeologist with Cojeen Archaeological Services and Kyle Davies, a fossil preparator with the Sam Noble Museum, excavate the site at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in ... more

Photo: Cojeen Archaeological Services

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These fossilized bone fragments were found at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma after a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad.

These fossilized bone fragments were found at the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area in Oklahoma after a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad.

Photo: Cojeen Archaeological Services

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Archeologists and paleontologists work on the site where a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad in western Oklahoma.

Archeologists and paleontologists work on the site where a machine operator struck bones during construction of an Apache Corp. well pad in western Oklahoma.

Photo: Cojeen Archaeological Services

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Nicholas Czaplewski, curator of vertebrate paleontology for Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, and Amy Cojeen of Cojeen Archaeological services work on the site.

Nicholas Czaplewski, curator of vertebrate paleontology for Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, and Amy Cojeen of Cojeen Archaeological services work on the site.